Gourmet Burger Kitchen - it’s about time.

44-47 Gardner Street, North Laine

Do you see this burger?? That’s right. Take a good long look at it. I am still quite the amateur at food photography and yet it still looks like you’d sell your granny for it. Kiwi-owned chain GBK has made it out of London and now Brightonians get to chow down on these most lovely of burgers. The one here on the left is their Stilton burger, accompanied with all the fixin’s. Can you see how the bun is lightly toasted? And how the Stilton sauce is just oozing off of it? Too bad I’ve got plans to go to Mojo’s tonight because I’d be all over GBK like a debt collector on payday. Their premise is simple: grab a table, decide which burger you’d like from one of two lifesize menus on the wall and then go up, place your order and pay. GBK keeps it simple. No desserts, sides are either salad or fries BUT there is booze. And kid’s meals. And milkshakes. I haven’t had one but Stephen gave it the thumbs-up.

The burgers range from your classic cheese or bacon to more adventurous offerings such as mango & chilli sauce, chicken, camembert & cranberry, chorizo & sweet potato, venison with redcurrant sauce and three types of veggie burgers; aubergine & goats cheese, falafel with raita and portabello musroom with rocket & pesto:

I had to take it apart and work from there. It was quite yummy. However, I needed to experience the beef burger and so went back and this time got my favourite combo; cheese, bacon & BBQ sauce. It was so incredibly messy and the first bite left relish down the front of my jumper but I did not care I tell you, such great lust I had for this burger! The portions of chips are massive (well, they’re massive when you’re trying to finish your burger) so we split one portion between the 3 of us and it was plenty!

The decor is beach-themed (of course, with the pebbles and the pics of old Brighton, etc) and there’s also an ever-changing backdrop of colour. I don’t see any need for all this showy flimflam! Just bring me my burger dammit! At least it’s nice and open for those brief summer days, complete with tables outside.

GBK is conveniently situated right next to Komedia if you’re planning an evening out there and is a fantastic place if you want something that’s not going to break the bank; their burgers are around £6-7 each depending on toppings. I’ve noticed that more places in the North Laine are attempting evening hours so now we have more choices than just the Dorset. All the places along Jubilee Street of course, there’s Mojo’s around the corner from the library, GBK’s neighbour, Pokeno Pies, and there’s a new Italian place on Sydney Street as well (sorry, the name escapes me but I know it’s BYO!).

For those of you who live in or near the North Laine, GBK also has a takeaway service. I have to stop writing now as it’s making me absolutely ravenous and my dinner reservation isn’t until eight.